Forest Favourites
The Favourite Plant and Worst Weed votes for 2012 and have been tallied and it is clear that Kiwis love their forests. The 2012 Favourite Plant winner is kauri (Agathis australis) and all other native plants in the top ten are trees or shrubs. The 2012 Worst Weed winner is Tradescantia fluminensis which particularly invasive in forests.
The Network first ran the favourite plant vote in 2002 and since the early days trees have been popular with voters. Previous winners can be viewed here.
“The size and longevity of trees means these plants often signify important places or times in people’s lives” says Network President, Philippa Crisp.
For many people Kauri epitomises the grandeur of a large forest tree and voters passionately describe it as our ‘forest king’ and ‘taonga’. A recurring theme was people’s concern for Kauri dieback (Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA)). Voters also commented on the important role Kauri has played in our history and culture, providing us with materials such as gum and timber. Kauri create their own unique forest type which supports a diverse range of plants and animals.
It is clear from voters’ comments that Kiwis are keen gardeners and avid conservationists. Voters demonstrated in-depth knowledge about how best to grow their favourite native plant and why particular weeds are so worrisome as well as practical advice on control methods.
The range of Worst Weeds nominated indicated the many ways which unwanted plants affect our indigenous plant communities such displacing our native plants or modifying their habitat. Most voters had a personal story behind the plant that vexed them the most.
Tradescantia fluminensis, the winner of the new ‘Worst Weed’ category, highlights how many plants become weedy. This creeping herb was originally brought to New Zealand from Brazil as an ornamental plant but by 1916 it had already jumped the garden fence. Now this plant is widespread in forests, scrub, riverbanks and cliffs in the North Island and frost free parts of the South Island. This plant can reproduce from the smallest fragment and quickly smothers low-growing native plants such as ferns and prevents tree seedlings reaching adulthood.
Posted: 01/01/2013